Breathing Black (The Black & White Duet #1)
Piper Payne
Pages: 392
Genre(s): Contemporary, New Adult, Suspense
Published: December 2nd
Format: E-ARC
Source: Author
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Hey fANGIRL Readers,
First of all, I want to start off by saying that this book completely exceeded my expectations. What I thought was going to be a simple contemporary, with a little romance and heartache, ended up being much, much, more than that. By the end of the book, my heart was just settling back into it's normal pace after all the suspense and plot twists had me on the edge of my seat . . . well actually my bed lol.
We follow alongside Larkin Grant, as she and her bestfriend June sweep away the ashes of their pasts to start anew. Larkin, having to live with her drug addict and alcoholic mother, she was forced to grow up alot sooner than her peers. Her life was never close to perfect, but when she finds her mother dead in a puddle of her own vomit, Larkin knows she must break free if she wants to save herself . . . and her sanity. June also faced a tough life at home, falling victim to sexual abuse caused by a family member. Both girls made a plan to escape their troubling childhoods back in Aspen to create a new start, in a new town of Salt Lake City.
Question:
What happens when someone from their past, comes in and turns the new life they've struggled to build and protect, upside down?
Answer:
All hell breaks loose.
After taking a bit of time to get on their feet, the girls are finally living what they've silently wished for all these years . . . a normal life. Both June and Larkin have graduated college, and are living together in a small apartment. June is a nurse, and Larkin is a host for a radio station called Joy Media Group. There she met Max and Austin, their beloved male buddies who complete their tight knit circle of friends. On what she believed was going to be a typical day at work, Larkin encounters someone from her past she spent years trying to get over.
Meet Landon Black.
Landon Black is the one boy Larkin knew she could never have. He came from a privileged family, was extremely popular in school, and had the blonde haired girl of every guys, and maybe even girl's dreams. He was simply out of her league. Or so she thought.
When she blindfolds Landon on the football field, after June pressures her to finally talk to him, there is no denying the connection these two strangers share. Afraid to show him who she really is, she keeps him blindfolded while they conversate.
Overall Breathing Black deserves far more than 5 stars. I'm itching to continue the story, to re-connect with the characters I've grown to love. I'm so #TeamJesse! If you're looking for a beautifully written, heart-wrenching, yet emotionally captivating story, that includes realistic characters, with real-life issues and believable connections, then this is most certainly the read for you! Whew that was mouthful ! lol
Happy Reading!
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We follow alongside Larkin Grant, as she and her bestfriend June sweep away the ashes of their pasts to start anew. Larkin, having to live with her drug addict and alcoholic mother, she was forced to grow up alot sooner than her peers. Her life was never close to perfect, but when she finds her mother dead in a puddle of her own vomit, Larkin knows she must break free if she wants to save herself . . . and her sanity. June also faced a tough life at home, falling victim to sexual abuse caused by a family member. Both girls made a plan to escape their troubling childhoods back in Aspen to create a new start, in a new town of Salt Lake City.
Question:
What happens when someone from their past, comes in and turns the new life they've struggled to build and protect, upside down?
Answer:
All hell breaks loose.
After taking a bit of time to get on their feet, the girls are finally living what they've silently wished for all these years . . . a normal life. Both June and Larkin have graduated college, and are living together in a small apartment. June is a nurse, and Larkin is a host for a radio station called Joy Media Group. There she met Max and Austin, their beloved male buddies who complete their tight knit circle of friends. On what she believed was going to be a typical day at work, Larkin encounters someone from her past she spent years trying to get over.
" I'd spent years running from my past, and as I walked the empty parking lot toward my office building, I never expected it, or should I say him to plow back into my life . . . "
Meet Landon Black.
Landon Black is the one boy Larkin knew she could never have. He came from a privileged family, was extremely popular in school, and had the blonde haired girl of every guys, and maybe even girl's dreams. He was simply out of her league. Or so she thought.
When she blindfolds Landon on the football field, after June pressures her to finally talk to him, there is no denying the connection these two strangers share. Afraid to show him who she really is, she keeps him blindfolded while they conversate.
" So you're just going to remain some mysterious girl in an emerald coat? If you're so comfortable with your flaws then why are you hiding? Why not let me see you? "
" I unclasped his black sports watch and took it off, pressing down on his pulse feeling it beat faster.
Wild, fearless, and free. To actually live is rare. Your blood can pump, your heart can beat, and your lungs can breathe, but none of it matters if no one cares if all of it stops. "
From that day forth, Landon searched for the mysterious girl in the emerald coat. Even though they went to the same school and shared some of the same classes, Larkin made sure she always remained incognito. She didn't want to be noticed by anyone, especially Landon. So when years later, he runs into her again, his plan is to never let her out of his sight. But are intentions innocent, or does he have an ulterior motive?
There are so many things I loved about this story. First of all, these characters were so well written! They were so real, and complex, making you truly care them. You'll experience so many different emotions just by reading their dialogue. One minute you'll be laughing at how ridiculous but hilarious Max and Alex are, but you'll also yearn to hug or even cry with them, as they take us on the tour of their troubling lives. These could easily be people that you would befriend in real life, and that is what I call a great set of characters.
I found the writing to be my absolutely favorite aspect of Breathing Black. It's so deep and poetic, the words with it's nice flow, were smooth like warm honey. I remember as I was reading, I highlighted about 30+ quotes I wanted to include in my review. Of course all of them won't be showcased, but that's how splendid the writing style is.
The plot will also be something I think you readers will enjoy. It's not something that you would expect, and that alone caught me completely off guard. As I mentioned earlier in this review, I figured this would be a typical contemporary, but was surprised when I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotions, suspense, romance, heartache, and everything in between! The mystery of why Landon is really back into her life, what really happened to her mother, and what boy will eventually steal her heart, is enough to make you dizzy from all the unpredictable twists. Oh, and how can I forget about the gorgeous design of the pages! As you flip your way through the story, you'll come across cute illustrations of some notes, and feathers that are actually a huge part of the story.
Overall Breathing Black deserves far more than 5 stars. I'm itching to continue the story, to re-connect with the characters I've grown to love. I'm so #TeamJesse! If you're looking for a beautifully written, heart-wrenching, yet emotionally captivating story, that includes realistic characters, with real-life issues and believable connections, then this is most certainly the read for you! Whew that was mouthful ! lol
Happy Reading!
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